Improvement in panniers or bustles



. To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

ELIZABETH s. WELDON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN PAI VNIERS OR BUS TLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 173,701, dated February15, 1876; application filed October 23, 1875.

Be it known thatI, ELIZABETH S'rowELL WELDON, of New York, in the countyofNew York, and State of N ewYork, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Panniers, of which the following is a specification Thisinvention relates to certain improvements in ladies Pompadour panniers,its object being to produce a pannier that will set gracefully to thebody of the wearer, and adapt itself to the various movements "of thesame, and which will bear any amount of crushing strain, immediatelyresuming its proper. shape when the pressure is withdrawn, whereby allinjury by the sitting or reclining of the wearer, or by the pressureattendant upon crowded assemblies, is avoided.

The invention consists in the combination, with the ordinary curvedsprings employed to distend the skirt of the pannier, of two flatsprings extending from one of the curved springs upward at the rearofthe pannier, where they are bent inwardly, and extended downward aconvenient length, crossing each other, and being secured to a strip offabric attached to the skirt of the pannier, forming a spring-pad orbearing-surface, which will rest against the body of the wearer-when thepannier is in position, keeping the same gracefully extended from thebody when in an upright position, and at the same time allowing it to bepressed in contact with the body in any position, when the wearer sitsor reclines, without injury. In the drawing, Figure 1 represents myimprovement applied to an ordinary bustle or pannier, and Fig. 2represents it applied to a skirt of full length.'

The letter A represents the skirt of the pannier,which may be of anysuitable material and convenient length, being generally constructed,however, of satin jeans. B represents a flat spring or wire extendingfrom the waistband G entirely around the edge of said skirt, hemmed inor otherwise secured to thesame. The letter D represents a series of theusual curved wires, commonly employed to distend the, skirt of apannier, secured in any convenient manner to the same-preferably,however, by means of a strip of fabric sewed over each spring. Theletters E E represent two springs crossing each other, and extendingfrom the ends of the springs Bat the waistband of the skirt to one ofthe lower springs in the shortv pannier shown in Fig. 1,

preferably the flat springs of the usual construction. Said springsextend, in the case of the short pannier, from one of the lower curvedsprings D, andin case of the long'pannier from one of the intermediatesprings D upward at the rear of said pannier to its top, and are therebent inwardly and downwardly to a convenient distance, as shown,crossing each other in their course. The said springs are secured to thefabric of the skirt in any con.- venient manner-in the present instancebeingsecured in the same manner as the springs D and E, by a strip offabric stitched to the fabric of the skirt--and thedownwardly-projecting portions'at the top are secured in the same mannerto a flap or strip, G, of fabric of suitable length sewed to the fabricof the skirt at its' top edge, or forming a continuation of the same.along its sides with a series of eyelet-holes, H, by which it is lacedto two strips of fabric,

I, secured to the edges of the skirt. By means of said lacing the shapeor curvature of the upper part of the pannier may be regulated andadjusted.

The waistband K of the pannier is made in two parts, which are attachedto those portions of the upper edge of the skirt lying on opposite sidesof. the springs F, the two adjoining ends of said straps at the rearbeing connected by means of a buckle to allow the upper part of thepannier tov be enlarged or contracted to suit various figures or stylesof dressing. The front ends ofthe waistband are provided with anyconvenient fastening devices, by means of which the pannier may besecured around the waist of the wearer.

In order to give the lower edge of the skirt a more finished andornamental appearance a ruffle or other trimming may be attached to thesame, if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I Said strip of fabric isprovided claim, and desire to secure by Letters .Patcut, is-

1. In combination with a ladys pannier or bustle, the two springs F F,extending from one of the curved springs which distend the same, or fromany other rear portion of the skirt, up to the top ot t-hcskirt, andthenbent: inwardly and downwardly, and attached to a flap secured to theskirt, thereby forming a spring-pad or bearing-surface to rest againstthe body, which will yield to the different positions of the wearer,substantially as described.

wanoi at the top, substantially as described:

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto setuny hand in thepresence of the subscribing witnesses. I

ELIZABETH STOWELL WELDON. W ituesses:

W H. MELIGK, W. READ.

